Chapter 133 Is she...pregnant?

Yao Qingling reappeared at Hui Ba Fang after a gap of about half a month.

She first looked around the shop, and then went to the warehouse.

Everyone was working diligently in their respective positions, the shop was kept tidy, no one was lazy, and there was no theft.

Lin Shiyuan stood with his hands behind his back, accompanying her on her inspection.

She looked at her, and he looked at her.

Does a stomachache require such a long recovery period?

He privately consulted a doctor, who said that women usually recover after a few days. However, there are exceptions, so it's hard to say.

Lin Shiyuan looked at her now. She wasn't exactly lively and energetic, but she was much better than the day she was pale and had no strength to speak.

It's better this way.

Yao Qingling picked up a dried sea cucumber and smelled it. Noticing a gaze, she turned around.

When she looked over, Lin Shiyuan snapped out of his reverie and calmly asked, "It seems that Madam Yao has fully recovered?"

Qingling nodded: "Yes, we specially invited a female doctor, and she's doing quite well."

Lin Shiyuan nodded: "Have you taken the tonic that Lin Qiao sent?"

During the days Yao Qingling stayed cooped up in the mansion, Lin Qiao came by once and brought a large basin of freshly cooked donkey-hide gelatin cake.

He Yin checked it and found no problem. She gave her a small spoonful every day, saying it was to replenish blood, nourish yin, and moisten the lungs.

When Lin Shiyuan saw her nod, he felt inexplicably happy. The corners of his lips turned up slightly, but not wanting anyone to see it, he turned his head to look at the other goods piled up.

Yao Qingling glanced at his back and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

The atmosphere was inexplicably strange.

The dried seafood emitted a sweet and fresh aroma, but also a fishy smell, making the air less than pleasant. Yet, neither of them seemed inclined to leave.

But neither of them said anything.

Even though they were facing away from each other, they could still feel each other's presence.

This feeling was also very subtle; Yao Qingling had never felt this way before when she was with Zhan Xingzhuo.

I wasn't nervous; on the contrary, I felt quite relaxed and at ease.

She pursed her lips and said in a low voice, "Donkey-hide gelatin is very expensive, Lin Shiyuan. Are you going to be eating pickled vegetables for the next few months?"

Although he had served as the General Who Guards the South, he hadn't been seen buying any valuable items all this time, and his clothes were just ordinary cloth, not silk.

Lin Qiao once let slip that her brother was dependent on her for support.

Yao Qingling found it amusing; how could a general possibly raise a child?

However, she had indeed seen Lin Shiyuan unable to afford a house. In fact, he now lived in the backyard of Hui Ba Fang, just like the other employees.

Yao Qingling couldn't figure out what was going on with this general who had lost his post. Perhaps his money was all left in the south and he hadn't had a chance to get it back yet, or perhaps he didn't need it and planned to start over in the capital.

Lin Shiyuan frowned slightly. "Eating pickled vegetables?"

Is she worried that he's short of money?

He remembered that he had asked her to go house hunting with him a while ago, and at that time he did act as if he didn't have enough money.

To be honest, Lin Shiyuan hadn't had time to calculate how much he still had.

The warehouse was dimly lit and dusty, with porters pacing back and forth. Lin Shiyuan watched as a porter carrying a large bag walked over and tossed it onto the stack behind Qingling.

Just as the man was about to speak, he caught a glimpse of the loose package out of the corner of his eye—

"careful!"

He reacted quickly and pulled Yao Qingling over.

When that package loosened, it also pulled other packages along with it, and then several more packages rolled down.

A huge cloud of dust billowed up.

Qingling kept her eyes tightly closed, and when she opened them, dust filled the air in front of her.

If she hadn't escaped in time, she would have been crushed under those packages, suffering injuries or even death!

She stared in astonishment at the goods, forgetting that she was still in Lin Shiyuan's arms.

Their bodies were pressed tightly together. Lin Shiyuan felt her belly pressing against his abdomen. He looked down and froze.

she--

Qingling snapped out of her daze, realized what was happening, quickly took a step back, pressed her lips together, and then looked up at Lin Shiyuan quietly.

She didn't say anything, but her expression was calm.

Lin Shiyuan seemed to hear a boom in his mind.

Is she... pregnant?

He stared at Yao Qingling in shock.

The shop assistant had just reached the warehouse door when he heard a noise behind him. He ran over and saw the crookedly piled-up packages on the ground, and then saw the owner who was almost crushed in the distance. He was terrified.

"Miss, I...I didn't mean to...these goods...they..."

He was so frightened that he couldn't speak coherently.

Yao Qingling looked away and said coldly to the shopkeeper, "Open the bag and check what's inside."

She then sent someone to fetch Xiao Pingfeng, who was in charge of the warehouse.

The man was terrified; his hands trembled, and he couldn't untie the bag for a long time.

When Xiao Pingfeng came over and saw what was happening, he immediately pulled out a dagger from his waist and cut open the sack.

It contained leather goods that had been acquired.

Fortunately, it was leather goods; if it were fragile items like porcelain, the loss would have been enormous!

He slapped the man on the head: "How many times have I told you, don't rush when moving goods. Stack everything neatly before moving on to the next trip!"

The man hung his head, not daring to speak.

Xiao Pingfeng glared at him, but didn't shirk responsibility; after all, he was in charge here.

He cupped his hands to Yao Qingling and said, "Miss, it is my fault for not disciplining him properly and I have disappointed you. Whatever punishment you wish to give, we will both accept it."

The young waiter glanced at him, his eyes drooping with a wronged expression.

Yao Qingling handed the warehouse over to Xiao Pingfeng to manage, so she didn't instruct him on how to manage people and affairs.

He simply said indifferently, "Clean everything up here."

Then they left.

As for what constitutes "tidying up," that's for Xiao Pingfeng to decide; whether he can do a good job or not is something everyone can see.

Xiao Pingfeng, having followed Yao Qingling, knew her character and dared not let his guard down.

Yao Qingling returned to the side room on the second floor of the front yard.

Lin Shiyuan came in, glanced at her, and then his gaze fell on her stomach.

He quickly looked away.

His lips tightened slightly.

The atmosphere is a different state.

The air wasn't filled with a faint sweet fragrance, nor was it ambiguous; it seemed to have transformed into a giant, taut drum, ready to produce a deafening sound with every strike.

Yao Qingling didn't panic or try to cover it up; instead, she sat down gracefully.

It wasn't exactly disappointment, but rather a sense of relief, like the dust had settled.

She still felt calm and at peace.

Yao Qingling took a sip of tea and told the maids to leave.

Lou Yue and Xia Chan both sensed something was wrong, but they had been learning to use an abacus from the shopkeeper and had no idea what was happening.

He glanced at it nervously, then quietly left.

The door closed, and Yao Qingling touched her stomach in front of Lin Shiyuan, saying calmly, "Since you've found out, I won't pretend anymore."

Lin Shiyuan's lips twitched slightly.

Therefore, her stomach pain that day was not because she was craving cold, but because the fetus was subjected to a huge shock, which disturbed the pregnancy.

So, when she looked plump and heavy, it was actually him carrying two people?

He looked at her wide, flowing dress, which concealed her like this; if it weren't for their close proximity today, no one would have known.

No wonder she spent almost half a month recuperating.

While Lin Shiyuan was still in shock, he heard the woman calmly say, "Lin Shiyuan, you are not allowed to tell anyone about this. You cannot reveal a single word."

The man took a deep breath: "You're pregnant, why do you insist on a divorce?"